Weighing scale



Feb. c. o. MARSHALL ET AL 2,341,226

WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 lze i r h Ill I33 /29 III III Lawrence 5. MW/ams INVENTORS TTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944. c. O..MAR$HALL ET AL 2,341,226

WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Lawrence S VFW/farm;

INVENTORS TORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944.

C. -o. MARSHALL ET AL WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942,

ll Sheets-Sheet 3 1944- c. o. MARSHALL ETAL' 2,341,226

WEIGHI NG SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Char/es Q Mans/1a Lawrence S MW/ams INVENTORS BY' ATT RNEYS Feb. 8, c Q MARSHALL ETAL 2,341,226

WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Chan/es 0. 42mm Lawrence 5. MW/ams INVENTORS A ORNEYS Feb. 8, 19446 c. O.MAR$HALL ET AL 2,341,226

WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 NON Char/es 0 Marsha/l Lawrence 5. MY/fams INVENTORS 5v (2,7? A ORN-EYS Feb. 8, 1944. 2,341,226

I c. o. MARSHALL ETAL WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Shee t '7 Lawrence 5 PV/W/ams INVENTORS BY z y z A ORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944. c. o. MARSHALL ET AL 5 7 WEIGHING SCALE I Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Char/es a Mrs/70% Lawrence. 5. V/M/ams INVENTORS A ORNEYS 1 Feb. 8, 1944.

c. QMARSHALL ET AL 2,341,226

wflmnme 'SCALE Filed April 24, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 Char/es 0. Mars/7a Lawrence 5. V///// 'am5 INVENTORS v .Bv-

Feb. 8, 1944. c. o. MARSHALL ET AL 2,341,226

WEIGHING SCALE Filed April 24,1942 11 sheets-sheet 11 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 WEIGHING SCALE Charles 0. Marshall and Lawrence S. Williams,

Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,308

Claims.

This invention relates to weighing scales, and more particularly to computing weighing scales for afiording an indication not only of the weight of merchandise but also of the product of such weight times the price per pound at which the merchandise is sold.

In general there are three types of computing scales. The first of these, which is the earliest, consists of a beam scale in which either the beam fulcrum, or its connection with the load receiving members, may be changed to give different leverages according to the price of the merchandise being sold on the scale. This type of scale has several disadvantages, but its primary fault lies in the necessity for manually moving the beam, or its connections, to change the beam leverage and accomplish the multiplication of the weight times the desired price.

To eliminate thes difficulties,- and the slow operation which resulted from the general use of beam scales, the automatic computing scale was developed. In this scale money value indication, as well as weight indication, is afforded by the combination of a fixed indicator and movable chart, or vice versa, in which the chart carries rows of computed amount indicia, representing the value of weight times selling price, on the same reading line as the indicia for weight alone. In this type scale the operation is quite rapid but the manufacture of the charts themselves is very difiicult. For example, in a 30 pound scale having prices from 5 per pound to 80 per pound, there may be as many as thirty or forty thousand individual indicia marks on the surface of the chart. These indicia must all be very accurately positioned or else error in reading will result. The manufacture of such a highly complicated chart is extremely expensive since it must be made light enough so that it will not react on the weighing mechanism and destroy the accuracy of the scale.

Various scales have been developed in Which follower mechanisms, or position selector mechanisms, have been employed which move auxiliary multiplying means various distances corresponding to the weight of merchandise on the scale and in which the multiplying means may be varied to multiply the weight on the scale by the selected prices. These mechanisms are all extremely expensive to manufacture and slow in operation and have not achieved commercial success for these reasons.

It is an object of this invention to provide a computing weighing scale in which one set of money value indicia serves to indicate the amount of the sale regardless of the price per pound at which the merchandise is sold.

It is another object of this invention to provide a computing weighing scale employing the basic principle of leverage variation to change the multiplying ratio of the scale; but employing such prinicple in such a way as to be rapid and eflicient in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a factor lever weighing scale in which the factoring, or multiplication of weight times prices, is accomplished by varying the point of application of the load on the load counterbalancing mechanism.

It is another object of this invention to provide a factor lever weighing scale having automatic load counterbalancing mechanism in which the multiplication of weight times any price from 1;:- to 99 is possible.

Still another object of this invention is to pro vide a factoring weighing scale in which the variation of the point of application of load to the load counterbalancing mechanism is accomplished by merely actuating one of a series of preconnected linkages rather than by moving levers or linkages.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a computing scale having weight, price per pound and computed amount indication for both the customer and the merchant.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic load counterbalancing factoring scale in which the prices to be multiplied by the weight of merchandise on the scale may be set up by a simple keyboard having only one key for each dimes increment and one key for each pennies increment of prices to be selected.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a factoring weighing scale having a projected indication for both the merchant and the customer of weight and of total money value and a positive indication for both the merchant and the customer of the price per pound by which such weight is multiplied to give the total money value.

More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of scale embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a view in front elevation of a weighing scale embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a greatly enlarged view from the left side of Fig. I, part of the housing being broken away and showing the load counterbalancing mechanism.

Fig. III is a rear view in elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. II with the covers removed and certain parts broken away.

Fig. IV is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view, taken substantially on the line V--V of Fig. IV.

Fig. VI is a detailed enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line VI-VI of Fig. IV.

Fig. VII is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially from the position shown by the line VIIVII of Fig. IV.

Fig. VIII is a diagram showing the function and operation of the lever system employed in the mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary plan view of manually operable price-set-up means employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. X is a front view in elevation of manually operable key mechanism for the price-set-up means illustrated inFig. IX.

Fig. XI is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XI-XI of Fig. X.

Fig. XII is a fragmentary detailed view, taken substantially on the line XII-XII of Fig. IX.

Fig. XIII is a fragmentary detailed view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line. XIII-XIII of Fig. X,

Fig. XIV is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 2511.

Fig. XV is a fragmentary detailed view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XV--XV of Fig. X. I

Fig. XVI is a fragmentary detailed View, taken substantially on the line XVIXVI of Fig. XV.

Fig. XVII is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating the operation of key-set-up mechanism.

Fig. XVIII is a View of that portion of the keyset mechanism illustrated in Fig. XV but shown in a different position.

Fig. XIX is a view of that portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. XIII but shown in a dif ferent position.

Fig. XX is a view somewhat similar to Fig. XVIII but showing the operation of a different one of the operating keys.

Fig. XXI is a further enlarged fragmentary view in elevation, taken substantially from the position shown by the line XXIXXI of Fig. III and illustrating price and value indicating mechanism.

Fig. XXI is a fragmentary view in elevation, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XXII-XXII of Fig, XXI and showing the indication of weight afforded by the mechanism.

Fig. XXIII is a view similar to Fig. XXII but showing price and value indication.

Fig. XXIV is a fragmentary plan view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XXIV--XXIV of Fig. XXI.

Fig. XXV is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line XXV-XXV of Fig. XXI.

Fig. XXVI is a detailed view further enlarged and taken substantially on the line XXVI-XXVI of Fi XXV.

Fig. XXVII is a fragmentary detailed still further enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line XXVIIXXVII of Fig. XXV. v

Fig. XXVIII is a detailed plan view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XXVIIL-XXVIII of Fig. XXVII.

Fig. XXIX is a fragmentary view of an indiciabearing chart employed in the device and illustrating the indicia borne thereby and its arrangement thereon.

Fig. XXX is a greatly enlarged view of price indicia borne by price indicating means employed in the device.

These specific drawings and the specific description that follows merely disclose and illustrate the invention and are not intended to impose limitations upon the claims.

A main box-like housing Ill, which is removably mounted upon a base H, has an opening !2 (Fig. VII) in its top and an upwardly extending collar l3 around the opening I2. The housing Ill serves only to cover the mechanism of the scale and is shown removed in Figs. III and IV. A load receiving platter M, to which is attached a downwardly extending skirt I5, is removably mounted on the upper end of a load receiving spider it (see also Fig. III) which extends upwardly through the opening I2 in the housing Hi. The skirt l5 surrounds the upper end of the collar [3 to prevent the ingress of dust into the interior of the housing If].

The load receiving spider it has two arms I! and it} which extend longitudinally of the scale (see also Fig. VIII) and the lower ends of which are bolted to the upper ends of two spider legs l9. The spider legs I 9 are rigidly connected by means of a longitudinally extending bar (Figs. III, IV, VII and, VIII). A hearing 2!, having a downwardly extending groove, is socketed in the lower end of each of the legs IS. The bearings 2| ride on pivots 22, one located in each of two arms 23 and 24 of a two-armed transversely extending floating lever 25.

A pair of supporting feet 26 extend downward- 1y from the bar 20 parallel to the lower ends of the legs l9 and have bearings 2'! socketed in their lowermost ends. The pivot line of the bearings 21 is coextensive with the pivot line of the bearings 2!. The bearings 21 ride on load pivots 28, one of which is located in the end of each of the arms of a transversely rockable two-armed lever 29. The lever 29 is fulcrumed, by means of pivots 39, in fulcrum bearings which are mounted in the upper ends of a pair of fulcrum stands 32 bolted to, and extending upwardly from, the base i l. The end of the lever 29, opposite its load pivots 23, consists of a heavy counterweight 33 which counterbalances the weight of the floating lever 25, spider feet I9, spider l6 and load receiving platter H1.

The load spider I K5 is checked to insure its vertical movement by means of check links 34 and 35. The stationary end of the check link 34 (Fig. VII) is pivotally connected to an adjustable bracket 35 which is adjustably bolted to the upper end of a stand 31, the lower end of which is bolted to the base i l. The other end of the check link 3 is pivotally connected to a stud 38 which is attached to a second stud 39 secured to the upper end of the leg IE adjacent the connection between the arm l! of the spider l6 and the leg 19.

The check link 35 is located at the opposite end of the device and its stationary end is pivotally and adjustably secured to an ear 40 (Fig. IX) which is an integral part of a main stand 4| comprising two vertical legs 52 and a horizontal cross arm 43 (see also Fig. III). The two-legged stand ll is bolted to the base I l. The free end of the check link 35 is pivotally attached to a stud 44 which is fastened to the upper end of the leg l9 associated with the arm 18 of the spider I6.

Adjacent each of the supporting feet 26 of the bar 26 there is a downwardly extending finger 45 (Fig. III) each of which has a horizontally turned end through which an upwardly directed conepointed screw 46 is adjustably threaded. Similar cone-pointed screws 4? are adjustably mounted with their points down, being threaded through,

ears 48 attached to the ends of the arms of the lever 29 (see also Fig. IV). The points of the pairs of-screws 46 and 41 are oppositely directed and have substantially the same center lines. Expansible members 49, each of which comprises two spring retaining cups 56 having cone seats in their outer surfaces and a spring which tends to force the cups apart, are located between the opposing points of each of the pairs of conepointed screws 46 and 41; the cone points or the screws being seated in the cone-shaped sockets in the cups 513. These expansible members 49 exert pressure against the fingers 45 and cars 48 of the bar 26 and lever 29 and serve as pivot retainers to hold the load pivots 28 of the lever 29 firmly seated in the bearings 21 which are located in the lower ends of the supporting feet 26.

Similarly arranged pivot retainers are located to retain the fulcrum pivots 30 of the lever 29 in their bearings 34 and act on oppositely directed cone-pointed screws, one of each pair being threaded into each of two ears 52 (Fig. IV) of the lever 29 and the other screw of each pair being threaded in one end of a bracket 53 which is bolted to a pair of bosses 54 extending upwardly from the base I i.

A similar pair of pivot retainers securely hold the bearings 2| (Fig. VII) which are socketed in the lower end of the spider legs 19 on the pivots 22 of the floating lever 25, being directed between ears 55 (Figs. IV and VI) of the lever 25, through which adjustable cone-pointed screws 56 are threaded, and fingers 51 of the bar through which upwardly directed cone-pointed screws 58 are threaded. An expansible member 58a, similar to the member 49, is located between the points of the screws 5e and 58.

The transverse floating lever serves as a ratio lever in the device to establish a ratio of 10:1 to enable the calculation of prices in pennies and in dimes and in combinations of the two. The two arms 23 and 24 of the floating ratio lever 25 extend parallelly transversely across the device and in each of the arms, at its outermost end, is a downwardly directed pivot 59 (Fig. IV) the edge of which is parallel to edges of the pivots 22. A similar downwardly directed pivot 66 is located in each of the arms 23 and 24 on the opposite side of the load pivots 22 of the lever 25. The pivot distance between the pivots 22 and Gil is one-tenth of the distance between the pivots 22 and 59. The weight of the arms 23 and 24 is counterbalanced by means of a loaded pipedike frame 6! of the floating lever 25 which is located along one side of the mechanism and so weighted that the floating lever 23 is balanced about the pivot line of the pivots 22.

The pivots 59, in the ends of the arms 23 and 24 of the floating ratio lever 25, are engaged in bearings 52 (Figs. VII and VIII) which are mounted in the lower ends of the arms of an inverted U shaped loading frame 63 (see also Figs. IV and XII). The loading frame 63 consists of a U shaped channel member 54 which extends longitudinally-of the scale and has two downwardly directed legs in the ends of which the bearings 62 are rockably secured. A similar loading frame is similarly located with respect to the pivots 60 and comprises a longitudinally extending channel member 66 having two downwardly directed arms 61 (see also Fig. III) in the ends of each of which there is located a bearing 68 in which the pivots 60 are engaged. The two loading frames 63 and 65 are substantially identical in construction, the only difference being that they face in opposite directions since they are located at opposite sides of the floating lever 25. The pivots 60 (Figs. III and VI) are retained in the bearings 68 by pivot retaining means similar in construction and operation to those already described for retaining various other pivots in their bearings. Each of the retaining means for the pivots 60 comprises a downwardly directed cone-pointed screw 69 which is threaded through the cross arm of the U shaped member 66, an upwardly directed conepointed screw III which is threaded through an ear ll of the arm 23 or 24 and an expansible member 12 identical in construction with the expansible members 49 previously described.

The pivots 59 are similarly retained in the bearings 62 by means of similar retaining members directly opposingly between the U shaped channel member 64 and ears [3 constructed integrally with the ends of the arms 23 and 24 adjacent the location of the pivots 59.

The U shaped channel member 66 carries a series of vertically extending and vertically movable spear points 14 (Figs. III, VIII and XII). These spear points are vertically slidable in slots cut in the bottom cross arm of the U shaped channel member 66 and guided by means of slots in an angular comb-like guide 1'5 which is secured to the inner side of the U shaped channel member 66 and extends horizontally over the open upper end thereof. Each of the spear points 14 has a shoulder "it extending from its outer edge which is engageable beneath a rolled lip ll of a latch 18 which is hinged in one arm of the U shaped channel member 66 and extends vertically therefrom being resiliently held in position to latch above the shoulders 76 of the spear points 74 by means of a pair of springs 19 extending between the latch 13 and the U shaped channel member 66. Each of the spear points 14 is urged upwardly by means of a hair pin spring at (Fig. XII) one end of which is hooked in a hole 8| in the upper end of the spear point 14 and the other end of which is secured in an eye 82 on the inner side of the inner arm of the U shaped channel member 65. The shoulder 16 is cut at right angles to the side of the spear points M at its upper edge to furnish a firm engagement between the rolled lip 71 of the latch 18 and the shoulder and the bottom edge of the shoulder 76 is angular with respect to the edge of the spear point 14. Thus whenever any one of the spear points 14 is moved downwardly the angular lower edge of the shoulder l5 cams the latch I8 outwardly and away from the edges of the spear points 14. beyond the line of the squared upper surface of the shoulders T6, releasing any of the spear points 14 which might have been latched beneath the lip of the latch 18. These spear points F4 so released are urged upwardly by the springs 88 until engagement between pods 83, which are punched protuberances on the sides of the spear points 14, and the cross arm of the U shaped channel member 66 prevents further motion. There are ten of the spear points 14 so mounted in the loading frame 65, one of such spear points representing each dimes value of possible selling prices of merchandise from zero to ninety inelusive.

A similar set of ten spear points M are mounted in the U shaped channel member 54 being guided for vertical movement by an angular comb 85 and having shoulders 86 which are engageable beneath 2. rolled lip 81 of a resiliently mounted latch 88 hinged to one arm of the channel member 64 and held against the edge of the spear points 84 by springs 89 (see also Fig. IV). The spear points 84 are urged upwardly by hair pin springs 99 which are hooked in openings QI in the upper end of the spear points 361 and ears 92 in the arm of the U shaped channel member G l. The springs 90 hold the spear points 84 upwardly and a pod 93, on each of the spear points 85, limits their upward travel. There are ten of the spear points M, one corresponding to each of the possible cents values of prices of merchandise to be weighed on the scale from zero to nine inelusive.

The spear points I4 and 311 are spaced equidistantly along the longitudinal length of the loading frames 63 and 65. The two loading frames 63 and 65 are maintained in an upright parallel position by means of links 514 (Figs. VII and VIII) one of which is connected between the ends of the loading frame I33 and 65 at each end of these frames. The links 94 are loosely mounted on pins 95 which extend from the ends of the loading frames 63 and E5 and are held on these pins by retaining clips 9'6 which are secured to the ends of the frames 63 and 65. The links at are also pivotally connected to the two spider legs I9 by means of pins ill, one of which extends outwardly from each of the legs I9 and is loosely engaged in a hole in one of the links 94. The links are retained on the pins 91 by means of clips 93 which are secured to the legs I9.

The weight of all of the mechanism which has been so far described, 1. e., the load receiving platter I 4, the spider I6, legs I9, floating lever 25, loading frames 63 and $5 and their various connections and linkages, is all supported on the load pivots 23 of the two-armed lever lid and counterbalanced by means of the counterweight 33 of that lever. Thus this entire mechanism floats and its weight has no effect upon the operation of the remaining mechanism of the scale which will now be described.

A main lever 99 (Figs. II, III, VII, VIII and IX) extends longitudinally of the machine and comprises two parallel arms IIIII and IEI which are connected by two cross arms I65. (Figs. VIII. and IX). The main lever 99 is fulcrumed by means of two fulcrum pivots I03 (Fig. III), one of which extends outwardly from the end of each of the arms Illt and IIII. The pivots Ii)? restin fulcrum bearings I64 one of which is socketed in the upper side of each end of the cross arm at of the main stand M. The pivots Hi3 are retained in their bearings I84 by means of a pair of pivot retainers which comprise two downwardly directed conepointed screws Hi5 (Fig. IX) which are threaded through a pair of fingers HIS of the cross arm 33 and a pair of similar screws, one extending upwardly through each of a pair of ears It! on the main lever 99 adjacent and opposite to the fulcrum pivots I03. An expansible member (not shown), identical with the members lid and 12 already described and illustrated, is located be tween each of the pairs of cone-pointed screws I05 threaded through the pairs of fingers I06 and ears I01. In all of the pivot retainers, that one of the cone-pointed screws which extends in the direction opposite to the knife edge of the pivot being retained thereby, terminates on the pivot line of that pivot.

The arm I extends along above the loading frame t5 and the arm IUI is located substantially parallel to, and above, the loading frame I53. Nine load pivots I08 extend rearwardly from the arm Itfl of the main lever 99, their edges being parallel to the fulcrum pivots I03 of the main lever 99 but upwardly directed. Each of the pivots I03 is rockable on an axis lying along its knife edge by means of a pair of adjusting screws I39 (Figs. IX and XII) which are threaded downwardly through the arm I00 and engage a flatened upper surface on the shank of the pivot I08 with which the pair of screws is associated. One of the screws I09 of each pair is located on each side of a vertical plane lying along the knife edge of the pivot I88. The pivots I88 are equidistantly spaced longitudinally along the arm Hill of the lever at and each of them is located above and is associated with one of the spear points It of the loading frame 65.

Load pivots IItl are similarly mounted in the arm Hit of the main lever 99 and extend transversely therefrom toward the front of the mechanism. The edges of the pivots III] are all parallel and the edge of each one of the pivots H9 is on the same pivot line as the edge of the corresponding pivot H38 which extends in the opposite direction from the arm IQ!) of the lever 99. Each of the pivots III) is rockable on an axis coextensive with its knife edge by means of two adjusting screws III which are similar to the screws Iild and operate in the same manner. The load pivots lid are equidistantly spaced along the arm Hill of the main lever and are located above the spear points 84 with which they are associated.

Over each of the load pivots I08 or IIEI there is hung an inverted U shaped link Hz (Fig. III) which has a cross arm shaped like a shallow V. The interior surface of the apex of the V is hardened and rests on the knife edge of that one of the pivots N38 or III! on which the link H2 hangs. A linking pivot H3 extends transversely through the two arms of the link H2 and has an upwardly directed knife edge which also extends outside of the two arms of the link IIZ. On each of the linking pivots II3 there is hung an elongated U shaped loading loop H4. Through each of the arms of the loop Ila, near its upper end, there is cut an aperture H5 (see also Fig. XII) through which the ends of the linking pivot H3 extend. The aperture H5 has a V shaped upper edge in which the knife edge of the pivot H3 fits. The body or cross arm portion of the U shaped loop I54 is pressed into a conical depression in which the point of that one of the spear points M or 84, which is associated therewith, is adapted to be seated. Each of the loops Ht, being hung on its own load pivot I08 and having a separate one of the spear points seatable therein, serves to apply that portion of the total load on the scale to the main lever 99 which has been applied to the associated one of the loading frames 63 or 65 by the floating ratio lever 25.

The nine load pivots I08 correspond to the nine dimes values, i. e., 10 to 90 inclusive, of the price of merchandise to be weighed on the scale. Similarly, the nine loads pivots Iii) correspond to the cents values, 1 to 9e inclusive, of 1price of merchandise to be weighed on the see. c.

The tenth one of the two series of spear points i 14 and 84 (i. e., that one of such spear points in the series of spear points which is located beneath the fulcrum pivots I03 of the main lever 99) is not associated with either a load pivot or a loading loop. These first two spear points I4 and 84 (Figs. III and IX) represent 0, dimes and cents respectively. Located immediately below the spear point 74' is a stud II6 on which the spear point 14' is seated when it is moved downwardly and caught beneath the latch I8. A similar stud II I is similarly located beneath the spear point 84.

At the end of each of the arms I and IOI of the main lever 99, opposite the fulcrum pivots I03, there is located a power pivot I I8 (Figs. VII, VIII and IX). The power pivots II8 extend laterally from the ends of the arms I00 and IOI with their knife edges parallel to the edges of the fulcrum pivots I03 and load pivots I08 and III). The power pivots II8 are seated in bearings I I9 which are socketed in the upper surface of the ends of an inverted substantially L shaped power bracket I20. The pivots II8 are retained in the bearings II9 by means of two pivot retainers, similar to the pivot retainers already described, and each of them comprising upwardly extending cone-pointed screws I2I which are threaded through ears I22 on the ends of the arms I00 and II and downwardly extending cone-pointed screws I23 which are threaded through fingers I24 extending upwardly from the power bracket I20. Between the points of each of the pairs of cone-pointed screws I2I and I23 there is located an expansible member I 25 similar to the expansible members 49 and I2 already described.

To the end of the arm I00, which extends beyond the position of the power pivot II8, there is pivotally secured a rod I26 (Figs. II, III and IV) which is the plunger of a motion damping dashpot I21 into which the rod extends. The dashpot I 21 is fastened to a sector guide bracket I28 bolted to the base II.

The lower end of the L shaped bracket I20 (Figs. VII and IX) is formed into a foot I29 (see also Figs. II and III) which extends horizontally substantially parallel to the arms of the main lever -99. A check link I30 (Fig. III) stretches longitudinally along the base of the machine parallel to the main lever 99 between a pivot plate I3I, which is secured to one of the legs 42 of the frame 4|, and a pivot plate I32 bolted to the heel of the foot I29 of the power bracket I20. The check link I30, the lever 99, the stand 4| and the power bracket I20, form a checking parallelogram for insuring the true vertical movement of the power bracket I20.

A cone pivot I33 (Figs. II and III) extends downwardly from the toe of the foot I29 and rests in a stirrup I34 which is adjustably linked tothe lower end of a flexible metallic ribbon I35 which extends upwardly overlying the arcuate face of a power sector I36. The ribbon I35 is clamped to the upper edge of the sector I36 which is a portion of a load counterbalancing pendulum I31 also comprising two arcuate fulcrum'sectors I38, to the lower ends of whicha pair of flexible metallic ribbons I39 are clamped. The ribbons I39 extend upwardly along the faces of the fulcrum sectors I38 and then along two machined guides I40 to the upper ends of which the ribbons are clamped. The guides I40 are formed at the upper end and on one side-ofthe I45, supports a vertically extending rack I46.

The rack I46 is in mesh with a pinion I4'I which is pinned on a horizontal shaft I48 parallelto the longitudinal length of the main lever and journaled in a pair of arms I49 of the, sector guide bracket I28.

When a load is placedupon the scale the weight of the load is multiplied through the various levers described and finally the power bracket I20 is moved downwardly a certain distance in' response thereto. This pulls downwardly on the metallic ribbon I35 which swings the pendulum I3"! in a counterclockwise direction (Fig.1I) and causes it to climb up on the sector guides I40 by the winding action of the ribbons I39 ,on the fulcrum sectors I38. This raises the pendulum body MI, and the rack I46 connected thereto, and rotates the pinion I41 and shaft I48 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. II). To the shaft I48 may be secured any form of indicator or chart which is desired.

Theory of operation The theory of operation of the portions of the mechanism so far described, which form' the weighing and factoring section of the weighing scale, can best be understood by comparing the main lever 99 to the beam of a conventional beam type weighing scale. The load placed upon the load receiving platter I 4 is supported on the floating transverse ratio lever 25 which distributes it in a ratio of 10:1 between the loading frames 63 and 65. Transversely the ratio lever 25 (as can be seen in Figs. VIII and XII) is eleven units of measurement long between the pivots 59 and 60 and the pivots 22, on which the load is placed, are located one-eleventh of this distance from the pivots 60 and ten-eievenths of this distance from the pivots 92. Therefore, the total load is distributed between the loading frames65 and 63 in a ratio of 10:1 (in accordance with the ratio between the dimes and pennies values of prices of merchandise to be weighed on the scale) z The load pivots I08, which are associated with the dimes loading frame 65, are placed along the arm I00 of the main lever 99 equal successive dis-v tances. In Fig. VIII, if we consider the first of such pivots I08 as the 10 pivot, the second as the 20, etc., that one which is shown connected by means of a loop I I4 to one of the spear points 74 of the loading frame 65 represents 40. If we look for a moment now at the load pivots III), it will be seen that in Fig. VIIIfthe second one of these load pivots is shown connected to a spear point 84 on the loading frame 63 by means of a loop H4. The ratio lever 25 has distributed the weight on the platform (as explained above) between the loading frames 05 and 63 in a ratio of 10:1. Therefore if the main lever 99 is considered a beam, the effect of connecting the mech anism as shown in Fig. VIII is equivalent to hanging one poise weight of ten increments on the fourth point of the arm I00 of such beam and one poise weight of one increment on the second point of the arm vIIII. The forces produced by these increments so loaded on [the main lever 99 are, of course, proportional to the units or fractional units of weight w, comprising the original weight placed upon the load receiving platter I4, so that the moment actually exerted on the arm I is proportional to 40w and the corresponding moment exerted on the arm IOI of the main lever 99 is proportional to 2w. As on a beam scale, the total value of the poise weights placed upon the beam is the sum of the individual weights so placed and therefore, with the mechanism connected as shown in Fig. VIII, a total moment proportional to 42w is acting on the main lever'99. This moment is counterbalanced by moving the pendulum I31 and swinging the weight I43 far enough to offset it. This results in rotation of the shaft I48 and of the indicating means a suflicient distance to indicate a money value equal to a price of 42 per pound times the number of pounds represented by 10.

By changing the hookup between the load pivots I08 and dimes loading frame 65, w can be multiplied by any value from ten to ninety and the penduliun I 53 will be lifted progressively further to counterbalance the successively higher results of multiplying w by larger prices. Similarly, by successively hooking up the load pivots H0 with the loading frame 63, the multiplication of w by the pennies values of the prices will be increased and will increase the total load to be counterbalanced by the pendulum I31. Any possible combination from l to 99 of the pennies and dimes values of prices may thus be summed to arrive at the proper force to act on the pendulum. This relationship may be expressed by the equation in which Fp is the force counterbalanced by the pendulum and P is the dimes value of the price of the merchandise is between 1 and 993, P will equal 0, and no force should be multiplied or applied to the dimes load pivots of the main lever 99. For this reason the spear point 14, which corresponds to 0 dimes value, is not connectible with the main lever 90 but instead rests on the stud I I6 which is secured to the frame. Similarly, in the event that the price is an even dimes amount, the spear point 84', which corresponds to 0 cents or pennies, is engaged with the stud II1 to prevent the addition of any increment for p to the arm I0! of the main lever 99.

Price-sct-up mechanism Means must be provided with which to depress the various spear points 14, 14', 84 and 04' so that the operator can set up the mechanism for pricing merchandise at any selected price. In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed this price-set-up mechanism comprises a bank of keys I50 for setting up cents values and a similar bank of keys I5I for setting up dimes values. Cents value keys I50 are located in a longitudinally extending row and the dimes keys I5I are in a similar row located immediately in back of the cents keys. These two sets of keys form a keyboard which is located at the front of the scale (Fig. I) in a position convenient for operation. The keys are located above a horizontal plate I52 (Figs. IX, X, XII) which is located beneath an opening in the housing I0. The plate I52 is supported on the upper ends of three posts I53 and a bracket I54 which extend upwardly from the key-set mechanism framework supported in turn by two frame members I55 which are bolted to the base I I.

Each of the keys I50 and I5I comprises a button I56 which is set on the upper end of a flattened stem I51 vertically movable in a slot I58 in the plate I52 and a slot I59 in a second plate I60 located beneath and parallel to the plate I52. A second stem I0 I which is somewhat similar in shape, lies adjacent each of the stems I51 and overlaps the stem I51 lengthwise. The two stems I51 and I61 are movable relative to each other in a vertical direction. In the side elevation, the stem I51, which may be referred to as the upper stem, can be seen to have a squared shoulder I62 (Figs. XII and XVII) which, when the key is in its uppermost position, is engaged with the undersurface of the plate I52. The stem I51 is urged toward this upper position by a wire spring I63 which is hooked in a small hole I54 in the shoulder I62 and looped toward the back of the key-set mechanism and then brought forward and hooked in a turned-over forward lip I65 (Fig, XII) of the plate I52. When the stem I51 is moved downwardly the two arms of the spring are pulled away from each other and the tension thus created urges the stem I51 and button I56 upwardly. The lower edge of the shoulder I52 is beveled to form a cam I66 (Fig. XVII).

The lower stem ISI of each of the keys is sub stantially rectangular in shape but has a squared shoulder I61 near its lower end, the bottom of which is angular forming a cam I68. The lower stem IGI is urged upwardly by a spring I69 hooked in an eye I10 formed in the side of the lower stem I6! and then looped and brought forward and hooked in the lip I65 of the plate I52 (Fig. XII). The lower stem I6! is moved downwardly by the engagement of a pod I1I, stamped in the side of the upper stem I51, with the upper edge of the lower stem IBI. A latch I12 (Figs. X, XII and XVII), which is similar to the latches 18 and 88 but in an inverted position, has a rolled lip I13 at its lower edge and extends along immediately behind the row of cents keys I50. The latch I12 is hinged at its upper end in the plate I60 and its lip I13 is resiliently urged forward toward the shoulders of the lower stems I6 I When any one of the lower stems I6I is moved downwardly, the latch I12 is cammed backwardly by the cam surface I03 and when the lower stem IGI has been completely depressed the shoulder I61 catches beneath the lip I13 of the latch I12.

The lower stems I6I of the keys I5! engage a substantially identical latch I14 which has a rolled-over lip I15 and is mounted similarly to the latch I12 but along the row of keys I5I. Each of the upper stems I51 of the keys I5I is urged upwardly by a spring I16 which is hooked in an ear I11 on such upper stem, looped forward and engaged in a lip I18 along the back edge of the plate I52. The lower stems I8! of the keys I5I are urged upwardly by similar springs I19 similarly attached to the stems and the lip of the plate.

.To each of the upper stems of the keys I50 there is riveted a set bar I (Figs. IX, XII and XVII) which extends at right angles to the stem I51 inwardly between the pair of dimes keys I5I, located behind each of the cents keys I50, and which has a turned end I8I which terminates immediately above the upper end of that one of the spear points 84 associated with the load pivot IIO corresponding to the value of 1:) represented by the particular one of the pennies keys to the stem of which the set bar I80 is attached. Thus, by depressing a selected one of the keys I 50, that spear point 84 associated therewith is moved downwardly until its squared shoulder 86 (Fig. XII) is engaged beneath the lip 81 of the latch 88 and until its point is engaged in the seat of the bottom of itsloading loop II 4.

Somewhat similar set bars I82 are riveted to the upper stems I5'I of the dimes keys I5I and extend transversely across the machine having a turned end I83 which is positioned above the upper end of that one of the spear points I4 associated with that one of the load pivots I08 corresponding to the value of P represented by the particular key I5I in question. Thus, by pressing downwardly on a selected one of the dimes keys, that one of the spear points I4 associated with the key is depressed until its shoulder I5 catches beneath the rolled lip II of the latch and its point is engaged in the bottom of that one of the loading loops H4 attached to the proper load pivot I08 for the dimes value sought (in Fig. XII a dimes spear point is shown so engaged and a pennies spear point is shown in its disengaged position).

A shaft I84 extends along the bank of keys I50 beneath the cams I65 cf the upper stems I51 andjust above the surface of the plate I50. The shaft I84 is rotatably journaled in the upper ends of two links I85 (Figs. XI, XIII and XVI) which are pivoted in end frame members I86, one of Which is located at each end of the plate I and the rear ends of which are bolted to the upper ends of the frame members I55. A similar shaft I81 is similarly mounted with respect to the keys II and the cams I55 of the upper stems I5'I of these keys, being rotatably journaled in a pair of links I98 which are also pivotally mounted in the frame members I86. The links I88 extend down below the frame members I85 and their lower ends are rigidly connected by means of a tube I89 which extends beneath the key-set mechanism parallel to the shafts I94 and IB'I.

Whenever one of the keys I50 is depressed the cam I65 of its upper stem cams the shaft I94 forwardly (to the left in Figs. XII and XVII). Similarly, depression of one of the keys I5I cams the rod IS'I toward the front (the left in Fig.

XVII). At the left end of the key-set mechanism (shown fragmentarily in plan View in Fig. XIV) there is located a bar I90 through which extend a pair of screws I9I which also extend through the upper ends of the links I85 and I88 and serve as the axes for the two shafts I84 and I81. The bar I90 reciprocates transversely to the axes of the shafts I84 and I8! and is so reciprocated whenever either one of these shafts is cammed forward by the angular cam surface I66 of the upper stems I51 of the keys I50 and I5I. The bar I90 is linked to a rod I92 which extends backward into the housing and is hooked in a short arm I93 (Figs. IV and VII) of a bell crank I94. The arm I93 of this bell crank extends horizontally and a long arm I95 of the bell crank also extends horizontally. The arm I95 is located just above the base II and is connected tothe arm I93 by means of a long vertically ex tending body I which is journaled upon a vertical rod I9! extending between two cars I98 of the sector guide bracket I25. On the end of the long arm I95 of the bell crank I94 there is located a cam I99 (see also Figs. III and V), the upper surface of Which is angular. The cam I99 travels on a roller 290 which rolls-along a. fiat topped boss 20I of the base II. The angular face of the cam I99 is engageab-le with a roller 202 which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 203 bolted to the arm 23 of the floating transverse ratio lever 25 between the pivot 60 and the counterbalancing frame 6 I.

Thus when any one of the keys I59 and I5I is depressed, the first action which results is the downward movement of the upper stern I51. There is lost motion between the downward movement of the upper stem I9! and the lower stem Ifil of these keys as shown in Fig. XVII. The resultant camming of the shaft I84 or I87, which pulls on the bar I99 and rod I92, swings the bell crank I94 and forces the cam I99 beneath the roller 292. This lifts the transverse floating lever 25 and removes the weight of the merchandise on the platform from the loading frames. This is necessary because if one of the spear points I I or 84 is engaged beneath the latches It or 88, it must be released by the camming action of the spear point shoulders Iii or 0% before the key being subsequently set up can be latched behind the lips I! or 9?. If there were no means by which to elevate or hold up the floating transverse lever 25 during this time, after di engagement of previously set up spear points and before engagement of subsequently engaged spear points, there would be nothing supporting the loading frame 03 or 65 as the case might be. If, for example, one of the spear points 84 were engaged beneath the lip of the latch I39, and all of the spear points I4 were disengaged from the latch I8, that amount of the weight on the platter distributed by the ratio lever 25 to the loading frame 65 would not be supported; therefore, the weight applied to the pivots 22 would cause the transverse floating lever to fulcrum on the pivots 59 and the opposite end of the ratio lever would drop, carrying the loading frame 65 with it. The loading frame would thus fall too far for the next spear point to reach a position for latching beneath the lip of the latch I9 and the subsequent key set up would not take place. This is prevented, as outlined, by lifting the transverse floating lever, by means of the cam 99, prior to the depression of the lower key stem IISI and the engagement of the set bar I99 or I82 with one of the spear points 84 or 14..

Weighing set-up mechanism The mechanism which has been described constitutes the means whereby the loads placed on the load receiver are applied to, and counterbalanced by, the automatic load counterbalancing pendulum and also the manually set-up means for varying the ratios of the scale in accordance with the price of the merchandise being weighed thereon. It is also necessary that some means he provided for setting the scale to indicate weight only and not the product of weight and price. This is accomplished by means of a weight key 204 (Figs. IX, XV and XVIII). The weight key 204 comprises an upper stem 295, which is sub stantially identical to the upper stems I51 of the price keys, and a lower stem 2%, which is identical to the lower stems IIiI of the price keys. The weight key 204 is located at the right side of the bank of keys corresponding to dimes values of prices. A set bar 201 is riveted to the upper stem 205 and extends at right angles therefrom in toward the mechanism of the scale, its end being positioned over the spear point 84' (Fig. IX) adjacent the end of the set bar I80 of the cents key IEQ. A second set bar 208 is secured to the set bar 291 and extends through the scale to the'opposite side of the dimes load pivots 508 where it isbent parallel with the main lever '05) and then bent in over that one of the spear points I4 which corresponds to the 50 or five dimes value key of the dimes keys IEI. The lower end of the upper stem 205, of the weight key 204, has an angular cam surface 209 which is in line with the cam surface I60 of the dimes keys Ill! and which, when the set key is depressed, cams the shaft I81 forwardly to operate the floating lever raising mechanism and permit the setup to be changed. The lower end of the lower stern 205 of the set key has a squared shoulded 230 and a cam surface 2H. The squared shoulder Ell] is adapted to be engaged by the undersurface of the lower plate I00 or to latch beneath the lip H5 of the latch I'M which is cammed out by means of the angular surfaces 2 II of the lower stem 2%.

An angularly-shaped auxiliary stem 2 I2 is riveted to the lower stem 20% and extends downwardly in line with the edges of the cam surfaces I68 of the lower stems I81 of the pennies keys I50. Near the lower end of the auxiliary stem 2I2 there is a cam surface 2L3 which is engageable with the lip I'I3 of the latch W2. Thus when the weight key is depressed, the upper stem 205 first moves down and cams the shaft 582', which operates the floating lever lifting mechanism, and then the lower stem 296 is moved downwardly which, by means of the cam surfaces -2I I and 2I3, cams the latches I'Id and I12 and releases any or all of the lower stems Itl of either bank of the price keys which may have been latched beneath the latches I 'M and I12. t the same time the set bars 2M and 208 are depressed and in turn set up the spear points 84' for 0 pennies and that one of the spear points 74 corresponding to a value of 50. Actually, therefore, when the scale is set for weighing it is pricing the merchandise on the load receiver at a value of 50 per pound. The chart or indicating means of the scale has two series of indicia marks, i. e., one series being graduated in money amounts and a second series in weight values and the two series are associated at 50 per pound (thus the indicia mark for one pound is adjacent that for 50, the indicia mark for four pounds adjacent that for $2.00, etc). 50 has been chosen as the associated weight price because it is midway in the range of prices per pound and because in scales of this type for use in markets and butcher shops merchandise worth more than 50 per pound is usually sold in relatively small quantities and the maximum price thus available on the scale has been found to be satisfactory. Of course, if it is desired, the associated weight price may be changed to any other value by simply bending the set bar 208 to set up a different one of the dimes spear points and by printing the chart with a different association between the money value indicia and the weight indicia.

Weight price interlock:

Because of the nature of the weight set-up mechanism just described, the first price selection after weighing must be controlled. When the weight key has been depressed, and merchand'i'se has been weighed on the scale, it has in actuality been priced at 50 per pound and its weight indicated only because of the association between the weight indicia and the money value indicia. If it is then desired to price the merchandise which has just been weighed at a price per pound of less than 10, for example, means must be provided to release the 50 spear point which was set up by the weight setup mechanism. If this were not, done and the price per pound of the mechandise were, let us say, '7, the scale would actually price the merchandise at 57. To prevent this class of error from occurring, an interlocking mechanism has been built into the key set-up mechanism so that after a weighing operation a key in each of the banks of keys I50 and I5! must be depressed or the scale will not operate at all but will automatically lock itself.

This can be better understood if it is realized first that the only time that there are not at least two keys (one in each of the two banks of keys) depressed is after the weighing cycle when all of the keys in the two banks have been released by the weight key. However, although none of the keys are depressed, the spear points representing 0 pennies and 50 dimes values are depressed, and the only way that the spear points can be released is by depression of some other pennies and dimes values keys. This class of error, that is weighing at a price of 50 plus the selected pennies price, is prevented by requiring the 0 dimes key to be depressed whenever a price is selected which is less than 10. By depressing the 0 dimes key the 50 spear point is released and the scale will operate properly.

If the price to be set up immediately after weighing were an even dimes amount, no error would result from depressing only a dimes key because the 50 spear point would be released and the 0 pennies value spear point could remain down. However, in order to prevent confusion in the minds of the operator, the interlock mechanism is designed so that a key must be depressed in each of the banks after weighing or the scale will not operate, i. e., if an even dimes price is selected the 0 pennies key must also be depressed just as the 0 dimes key must be depressed if the price selected is less than 10 (of course a combination price such as 24 or 87, which is selected -by depressing a key in each of the'ba'nks, automatically prevents error).

The interlock mechanism operates to control the reciprocating ba I90, which operates the ratio lever lifting mechanism, and to lock the bar I and the ratio lever lifting mechanism underneath the ratio lever until a key has been depressed in each of the banks of keys. A slide -2M (Figs. XIII and XIX) "has two downwardly extending fingers 2I5 and M6 which are engaged with the rolled lips I73 and I15 of the latches I12 and H4 respectively. The slide 2M is resiliently urged toward the rear of the key mechanism by means of a spring 2 i"! (Fig. XIII) which extends between the finger 2I6 and a hookZ-IB secured to the end frame member I86 above which the bar I90 is located. The slide 2 is guided in its reciprocal movement by means of an car 219, which extends upwardly into a slot 220 in the lower plate I60, and an arm -22I of the slide 2 It, which extends upwardly through a similar slot 222 in the plate I60. A pin 223 extends through the upper end-of the arm 22 I.

A pawl 224 is 'pivotally mounted in a bracket 2-25 whichextends up over the bar I00. Theipawl operate independently.

224 has a bifurcated rear portion and a slot 226 between the bifurcations is cut at an angle extending upwardly toward the rear of the pawl 224 (the right in Figs. XIII and XIX). The pin 223 is engaged in the slot 229. The front end of the pawl 224 is engageable in a notch 221 in the upper edge of the bar I90 nea its front end and is shown so engaged in Fig. XIX.

At the opposite end of the key-set-up mechanism, just outside and adjacent the lower and auxiliary stems of the weight key 204, there is located a linking bar 228 (Figs XV, XVIII and XX). The linking bar 228 is pivoted near one of its ends on a pin 229 which is inserted in the end of the turned-over lip I of the latch I14. The linking bar 228 extends forwardly above the end of the lip I13 of the latch I12 and has a notch 228a which is adapted to be engaged on a pin 230 (see also Fig. XVI) inserted in the end of the lip I13 of the latch I12 (the notch is shown so engaged in Fig. XVIII). When the weight key is not depressed, and the lower stem 206 and auxiliary stem 2I.2 are in their upper posi-- tion, toward which they are urged by means of a spring 23! (Fig. XV), the linking bar 228 is held up by means of a turned-over finger 232 (Fig. XVI) on the end of the auxiliary stem 2I2 which hooks beneath a shouldered section 233 of the linking bar 228 and is so shown in Figs. XV, XVI and XX. The linking bar 228 is resiliently urged downwardly by means of a spring 234 which is hooked in its outermost end and secured to the undersurface of the plate I60.

When the weight key is down, or when there is a key depressed in each of the banks of keys, the two latches I12 and I14 are both held back slightly against their actuating springs (the position illustrated in Fig. XIII) and the spring 2|? holds the slide 2I4 back against the lips I13 and I16 of the latches. The pin 223 is moved backwardly (to the right Fig. XIII) and by camming against the inclined edge of the slot 226 has swung the pawl 224 slightly in a clockwise direction to lift the pawl above, and out of possible engagement with, the notch 221 in the bar 360. When the weight key is up, and the price keys are depressed, the two latches I12 and I14 The depression of a dimes key swings only the latch I14 and the depression of a pennies key swings only the latch I12.

When the weight key is depressed both latches are swung by means of the lower stem cam surface 2 and the auxiliary'stem cam surface 2I3 and all of the price keys are released to snap upwardly. Also the finger 232 of the auxiliary stem 2I2 is moved downwardly which permits the linking bar 228 to swing downwardly and engage the pin 230 in the notch 228a which links the two latches I12 and I14 together. After weighing, let us assume that only a dimes key is moved downwardly. The action of the cam surface I68 on the lip I15 of the latch I14 swings this latch away and releases the shoulder 2I0 of the lower stem 206 of the weight key which snaps upwardly. If the first key depressed after weighing were a pennies key, its cam surface I68 would swing the latch I12 and, if it were not for the linking bar 228, would not release the weight key lower stem 206 from beneath the latch I14 because the auxiliary stem 2I2 does not hold the weight key stems down. However, since the notch 228a in the linking bar is engaged with the pin 230 of the latch I12, when the pennies key is depressed and the latch I12 swung the latch I14.

is also swung and the lower stem 206 of the weight key released.

When the weight key moves upwardly and leaves only one key depressed, i. e., either the single pennies or single dimes key, that one of the latches I12 or I14 not engaged (in Fig. XIX a dimes key is shown in a depressed position and therefore the latch I12 is free to move), swings against the finger of the slide 2I4 overcoming the spring 2I1 and moving the slide forward (to the left in Fig. XIX) which by camming against the angular walls of the slot 226 swings the pawl 224 in a counterclockwise direction downwardly into the path of the notch 221 in the top of the bar I90.

Normally when the upper stem of a price key moves downwardly its cam I66 engages either the shaft I84 or I81 and moves the rod I toward the front to swing the floating lever lifting cam I99 in beneath the floating lever and then when the upper stem moves upwardly, leaving the lower stem engaged with the latch I12 or I14, the shoulder I62 of the upper stem is moved out of the way of the shaft I84 or I81 which permits the bar I90 to be moved back and the lifting cam I99 to be removed from beneath the floating lever.

However, when a key in only one of the banks of keys is depressed and, as described above, the pawl 224 swings down into the path of the notch 221 after the upper stem has moved upwardly and the shoulder I62 no longer holds the shaft I04 or I81 forward, the bar I90 is maintained in its forward position and the lifting cam I99 held beneath the floating lever by the engagement of the pawl 224 in the notch 221. If the first key depressed is a pennies key, the spring on the latch I14 acting against the finger 2I6 moves the slide 2 I 4 forwardly to achieve the same result, i. e., the prevention of operation when a key in only one of the banks of keys is depressed.

Price indicating means The key mechanism which has been disclosed operates in such a way that the keys corresponding'to the price of merchandise being weighed on the scale do not remain depressed and, therefore, there is no indication on the keyboard as to the price which is set up in the factoring mechanism of the scale. It is also necessary to provide an indication so that the merchant will have a visible means of determining whether the scale is set for weighing or for pricing merchandise.

A pair of slides 235 and 236 (Figs. X and XI) are slidably mounted parallel to the tube I89 in slots cut in two brackets 231 which are fastened to the end frame members I86 and extend downwardly therefrom. The two slides are parallel, one of them being located beneath the shoulders I61 of each of the banks of price keys I50 and I5I (Fig. XII) Th slide 235 has ten upstanding --stops 238, each of which is associated with one of the series of keys I50 which represent cents amounts. The slide I36 has a similar series of stops 239 which are associated with the series of keys I5I representing dimes values of prices.

A bar 240 (Figs. X, XI, XV and XVI) is mounted on the right end of the shafts I84 and I31 similar to the manner in which the bar I90 is secured to their opposite ends. The bar 240 is adapted to be reclprocated by the movement of either of the shafts I84 or I81 caused by the action of the cams I66 of the price keys. A slot 24I (Figs. XI and XV) is milled in the rear end of the bar 240 and the rounded end of an arm 

